Coral Sea Marine Park

The Coral Sea Marine Park (previously known as the Coral Sea Commonwealth Marine Reserve) is an Australian marine park located in the Coral Sea off the coast of Queensland. The marine park covers an area of 989,836 km2 (382,178 sq mi) and is assigned IUCN category IV. It is Australia's largest single marine park and is one of the world's largest protected areas.[3]

Coral Sea Marine Park
IUCN category IV (habitat/species management area)
Map showing the Coral Sea Marine Park. Shaded areas are Sanctuary or National Park zones ('no take' zones).[1]
LocationAustralia
Coordinates17.226°S 151.380°E / -17.226; 151.380[2]
Area989,836 km2 (382,178 sq mi)
Established1 July 2018
OperatorParks Australia
Websitehttps://parksaustralia.gov.au/marine/parks/coral-sea/

The Coral Sea Marine Park lies directly adjacent to and east of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park.

Conservation values

Species and habitat

Bioregions and other features
  • Includes three Key Ecological Features: the reefs, cays and herbivorous fish of the Queensland Plateau and the Marion Plateau and the northern extent of the Tasmantid Seamount Chain.
  • Heritage values include several historic shipwrecks including three World War II shipwrecks from the Battle of the Coral Sea.
  • The reserve represents the full range of seafloor features found in the region, including numerous reefs ranging from Ashmore and Boot Reefs in the north of the region to Cato Island and surrounding reefs in the south. The reserve includes canyons, troughs and plateaux, including Bligh Canyon approximately 200 kilometres off the coast from Lockhart River and the Townsville Trough, which separates the Queensland and Marion Plateaux. The reserve extends into the deeper waters of the Coral Sea Basin in the north, and provides protection for the pinnacles of the northern extent of the Tasmantid seamount chain.
  • Six provincial bioregions, 94 depth ranges, and 16 seafloor types are represented in the reserve.[4]

History

The Coral Sea Commonwealth Marine Reserve was proclaimed in December 2013, and renamed as a 'Marine Park' in October 2017.[3]

The original management plan for the Coral Sea Marine Park was suspended before it came into effect on 1 July 2014.[5][6] The plans, which cover the zoning and protection measures of the marine park, were later subject to review as part of a wider review into the Commonwealth Marine Reserves announced in 2012.[7][8]

On 1 July 2018 the management plan and protection measures came into effect for the first time.[9][3] Under the new management plan, 'no take' zones in the marine park were reduced in area by approximately 53% compared to the original proposed zoning.[10]

Former reserves

The Coral Sea Marine Park encompasses the former Coral Sea Conservation Zone, former Coringa-Herald National Nature Reserve and former Lihou Reef National Nature Reserve.[4]

Summary of protection zones

The Coral Sea Marine Park has been assigned IUCN protected area category IV. However, within the marine park there are multiple protection zones, each zone has an IUCN category and related rules for managing activities to ensure the protection of marine habitats and species.[3]

The following table is a summary of the zoning rules within the Coral Sea Marine Park:[3]

Zone IUCN Activities permitted Total area
(km2)
Vessel transiting Recreational fishing Commercial fishing Commercial aquaculture Commercial tourism Mining
National Park II Yes No No No excludes fishing, with approval No 238,400
Habitat Protection IV Yes Yes some, with approval with approval with approval No 655,129
Habitat Protection (Reefs) IV Yes Yes hand and dropline, with approval with approval with approval No 29,827
Special Purpose (Trawl) VI Yes Yes most, with approval with approval with approval No 66,480
External link: Zoning and rules for the Coral Sea Marine Park

See also

References
  1. Map data: Sanctuary IUCN Ia and National Park IUCN II zones ('no take' zones) from Australian Marine Parks, (2018) Australian Government Department of the Environment and Energy. CC BY 4.0. http://www.environment.gov.au/fed/catalog/search/resource/details.page?uuid=%7BCD8877F3-8C39-4A20-A53F-070FBEE5AF3C%7D
  2. "Relation: Coral Sea Marine Park (8448061)". OpenStreetMap. Retrieved 16 August 2018.
  3. "Coral Sea Marine Park Management Plan 2018" (PDF). Parks Australia. Retrieved 15 July 2018.
  4. "Coral Sea Commonwealth Marine Reserve - Overview". environment.gov.au. © Commonwealth of Australia (CC BY 3.0 AU). Retrieved 15 August 2018.
  5. Lawler, Susan (16 December 2013). "Without management plans, marine parks will not provide environmental benefits". theconversation.com. Retrieved 15 July 2018.
  6. "Labor, Greens slam marine park decision". news.com.au. News Limited. 14 December 2013. Retrieved 15 July 2018.
  7. "About the Commonwealth Marine Reserves Review". marinereservesreview.gov.au. Australian Government. Retrieved 15 July 2018.
  8. Buxon, Colin; Cochrane, Peter (3 October 2016). "The story behind Australia's marine reserves, and how we should change them". theconversation.com. Retrieved 15 July 2018.
  9. "New protections for Australia's world class marine parks". sail-world.com. Sail-World Australia. 3 July 2018. Retrieved 15 July 2018.
  10. Meeuwig, Jessica (21 September 2017). "More than 1,200 scientists urge rethink on Australia's marine park plans". theconversation.com. Retrieved 16 July 2018.
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